LET’S CURL UP WITH BOOK BEGINNINGS/FRIDAY 56 – “THE AFTER WIFE”

To join in, just grab a book and share the opening lines…along with any thoughts you wish to give us; then turn to page 56 and excerpt anything on the page.

Then give us the title of the book, so others can add it to their lists!

If you have been wanting to participate, but haven’t yet tried, now is the time!

What better way to spend a Friday?

Today I’m spotlighting a book I purchased a few months ago: The After Wife, by Gigi Levangie Grazer.

Beginning: (Prologue)

“Hi, my name is Hannah…and I’m a widow.”

Three in the morning. Again. Like any good therapist, my bathroom mirror has infinite patience.

***

56: There was so much I wanted to know. Was there heaven and hell? Was Anna Nicole Smith sorry she missed the reality show craze? And John, where was John?

***

Blurb: L.A. is no place for widows. This is what forty-four-year-old Hannah Bernal quickly discovers after the tragic death of her handsome and loving husband, John. Misery and red-rimmed eyes are little tolerated in the land of the beautiful. But life stumbles on: Hannah’s sweet three-year-old daughter, Ellie, needs to be dropped off at her overpriced preschool, while Hannah herself must get back to work in order to pay the bills on “Casa Sugar,” the charming Spanish-styled bungalow they call home.

Fortunately, Hannah has her “Grief Team” for emotional support: earth mother and fanatical animal lover Chloe, who finds a potential blog post in every moment; aspiring actress Aimee, who has her cosmetic surgeon on speed dial; and Jay, Hannah’s TV producing partner, who has a penchant for Mr. Wrong. But after a series of mishaps and bizarre occurrences, one of which finds Hannah in a posh Santa Monica jail cell, her friends start to fear for her sanity. To make matters worse, John left their financial affairs in a disastrous state. And when Hannah is dramatically fired from her latest producing gig, she finds herself in danger of losing her house, her daughter, and her mind.

One night, standing in her backyard under a majestic avocado tree, in the throes of grief, Hannah breaks down and asks, “Why?” The answer that comes back—Why not?—begins an astounding journey of discovery and transformation that leads Hannah to her own truly extraordinary life after death.

***

What do you think? Does this story pique your curiosity? I hope you’ll stop by and leave your comments and links.

The first thing that caught my eye was the title and the play on words, reading the synopsis I’m further intrigued by Hannah and her situation. I already feel how overwhelmed she must be feeling. Thank you so much for sharing and have a lovely weekend.

This sounds like a fascinating book. I like the comparison of her mirror to a therapist, and the name of the bungalow appeals to me too — “Casa Sugar.” Sounds like my kind of story. I find lots of good books at the B&N bargain table too!
Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog today.

I probably would’ve passed this by if I had just seen the cover and title but the blurb sounds pretty interesting and I love the excerpts. Hannah sounds like a very likable character. Definitely someone you’d want to root for!